HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

I'm just a little off in posting. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! We did here.

I finished the Rose Arbor wall hanging in time to give to my neighbor by Friday. (Forgot to take a photo before I gave it to her) I was disappointed in the binding, and told her I needed to borrow the quilt back in January for the quilt show. When I get it back, I am going to redo some of the binding. I miss judged it somehow and I'm betting it was in rushing to get it done. If you can ever avoid being rushed, the work will be 100% better!

Yesterday I started quilting on the Frog wall hanging for another friend. This one is not rushed, and it should work out fine. It has been a while since I have done bindings and I would truly not do them if I didn't have to. lol There is a really good book out there for bindings, which I have, and didn't use! - ugh, anyway, it helps to look that over before you get started.

Christmas was at our house. It went really well. And I know my husband loves me when he gives me a Rowena iron! My other iron would shut off as I ironed and I would constantly have to turn it back on as I'm working.

I will be posting photos, as I go this time.

My mother is working on the Baltimore Christmas quilt that I bought as a block of the month. I have it all - or should I say my mother has all the patterns at her place. Anyway, as she worked on it on Friday, more members of the group want to make that one as well.....so, my project just because not only mine, but 5 others as well! Can't win. lol  Decided the next one I do, I'm going to do on my own and won't let them see it till after it is done. If I work on it in front of them, they will just have to wait till I finish mine before they can work on theirs. lol -Ain't gonna happen!

Best wishes, Lynn

Getting closer

Last week set me back a LOT! I got the wonderful cold/flu that is going around. To think I was doing great this year. Thanks to my parents for bringing it back with them from Las Vegas, visiting family. UGH

I'm getting closer to finishing the Rose wall hanging. I am quilting around the edge of the pattern. I need to decide if I want to quilt a stem or leaf in the upper area that has too much open spaces. I will decide when I get the edge done. It will depend on the time. I'll take photos when I'm done.

My son arrives tomorrow, so time is running out. It will be great seeing him. Thursday is the TAS groups Christmas Party and I'm looking forward to it. Haven't figured out what I'm going to make yet, but I will get working on that. Bowling Christmas Party tomorrow night. So, at this rate it's getting busier than I thought it would. I was thinking I was ahead of the game - till I was sick for a week.

If I don't post before Christmas - may you all have a Wonderful Merry Christmas!

Good Morning!

Today will be a busy and boring day. I am going with my mother to take my father up to the doctors to have his foot operated on. He got a needle stuck between two toes and thought he had pulled it out. Apparently the needle broke. So, he's foot is swollen and needs to be operated on to get the small piece that broke off out. They went in on Thursday (when this happened on Monday) and the doctor didn't have the right equipment, so we are head to Tumwater today. I had planned on doing other things, but this came up.

Our Monday appointment at mom's to baste my quilts was changed to Wednesday. So, by Wednesday I had both wall hangings ready to be basted. I think the hardest part of getting it ready was trimming the quilt size to what I wanted. Since there are no "straight seams" it was harder to square off. But we did it. "We" is my mother, two other quilters, and myself. We all got them basted in about a half hour. It's interesting when you have four women basting on a quilt that is about 24" by 32". We talked about what one of the quilters was going to do with one of her Two Fabric Applique patterns.

Thursday I woke at 4 am and couldn't go back to sleep, so I started quilting on the Rose pattern. Then I took it to our TAS meeting (have permission to post their information, so look on the side for that). Funny how my quilting stitches aren't really that big, but three people asked if I was basting the pattern down. Told them, no, that was quilting stitches. Guess they were not used to someone going around the pattern from the inside and the outside when quilting it. And trust me, my stitches are big but not that big. I'm working on getting them closer together and smaller, but as long as they are pretty close to being equal, they are good. I'll try and remember to get a close up of the quilt when I'm done so you can see what I'm talking about.

Friday was our TAS meeting where we exchanged quilt gifts through a White Elephant gift exchange. 11 of us were prepared. So, my gift was picked first and that poor gift was the one everyone seemed to want. So, it went around 3 times, and in the end the gal that picked it first got it back. Told her I wanted a copy of the pattern, because it was so pretty. A well done pattern. Since bowling was last night, I haven't touched the quilt since yesterday.

So, today I need to get a few applique things together, and I'm debating on taking my wall hanging to quilt on. It isn't big, but I don't know how it will look at the doctors. But then again, I'm waiting on my father and I'm not having to move around or go in the office, so I may just take the hoop, quilt and go for it! I'll let you know what I did. In the mean time, have a great day! Wish me luck at getting home before 6 pm tonight....It will be a long day....

Time is Flying By!!

Hard to believe it's the 5th of December already. Talk about time flying! They say the older you get the quicker the time goes. I do believe that is true!

This weekend we got a tree from a local grow, who is also a friend of mine. So, we put the tree up and decorated the house. I went pretty quick! My husband decorated the tree, since it was his year.

I made the tree skirt last year. I had to pull out my Santa's though, as I collect them each year.

This one I won in an exchange.

These are the ones I love to collect. They are "crafty" but well done.

Okay, so after doing Christmas decorations - and keeping Charlie outside for the day, I was able to finish up the Rose wall hanging. I will take it to mom's on Wednesday and get it basted to quilt. I have two I need to get done, and the other is a frog. That one is for a friend, and it's been in the works for two years. I finally took the time and started it on my trip to see my son in NC. I finished it the week after we got back. That was in July. So, I seriously need to get moving and get it done to give to her.

Finished appliqueing this Rose wall hanging on Saturday.

This is the frog I did for my friend.  Both will be basted and ready to quilt by Wednesday. I have two weeks to get them both done! Keep your fingers crossed. As you can see they are quick and easy to do. Fun to work on, and very additive when you get started.

Gave my daughter an idea for a quilt. She's going to try and do me a pattern for it. Can't wait, but need to since I have enough stuff to do right now.

I did get more quilting in on the Hawaiian quilt last night. I was happy to be able to sit under a warm quilt to quilt. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to get the border to work with the center when doing the echoing. I'll figure it out, but I'm working on the center right now, so it will be a little bit before I have to work on the issue.

As you can see, the frog is done is colors that are out of my comfort zone. I found I do like the end result. I am thinking of doing another one that is in fall colors as well.

I'll tell you how it goes on Wednesday.

NEVER as planned.

Note: Please feel free to click on the ads, that is what makes this free for all of us to post. 

Have you ever had one of those days where you plan on doing something, and that something never gets done?! Well that was my day yesterday and today.

Yesterday, I did my usual walking in the morning. Changed it from 6 am to 7 am, so that works out. Just makes the day go that much faster. Then I did the usual laundry, games, and cleaning. Afternoon came and I find myself on the computer, again. This time because I bought myself the updated version of World Family Tree. So, genealogy came into play. I spent most of yesterday checking out information in boxes and putting it in the computer. I decided to join Fold3.com for documents they have for the war vets. As I have said before, my family is war vets. All the way back to the beginning of the US.

So, today, I actually tried harder to get applique work done. I got a few of the petals done on the bigger rose at the bottom of my pattern.

So, I'll tell you in the order of my photos as not to confuse you. This is what I had done by Thanksgiving weekend. You can see where I cut as I go.

At this point the colors are changing and it's really starting to come together. So, on Monday and Tuesday I sat and watched TV with my husband and got to this point - where I am today.

So, you can see, I didn't make my deadline as planned, but then I would have if I hadn't spend yesterday and today on the computer doing genealogy. I will set up another page so I can tell you stories of the family members I'm learning about. Most of the information is my finding out and not given to me. My grandmothers (2) kept everything you can think of that talks about family.

Okay, back to quilting, or applique.  So, I'm close to having this done. I hope to have it done this weekend so I can take this and the frog one to mom's to get basted. I'm hoping to quilt them both by Christmas.

My other project - so to speak - is looking for gifts for quilters. Should be easy - Right?!  NOPE!  I found a really pretty applique pattern that I got on eBay. Brand new, so since it didn't cost much, I can add some fabric or notions with it. Trying to find all that at under $15 is hard. I haven't been quilt shopping in awhile, but BOY has prices gone up! I'm finding I can buy the same thing (zipper bags) at the cosmetic counter than I can in the quilting supplies. (May do that yet!!) Oh, well. I'm still checking out patterns and things I may have in my stash I haven't touched or even done. What a pain. But I want to doing something nice....I'm not one to give stuff that is used. Nothing ticks me off more then getting something used for a gift. Ask me first, then maybe I'll take it. But if I'm giving you new stuff, you better do the same.

Okay, two days late on the photos, but I finally got them done. Hope you like the project. If your interested in the other patterns Nancy Chong has, just go to the side panel and click on Pacific Rim. Happy Quilting.

My thoughts over the last week

I'll post photo's tomorrow. In the meantime, I've been thinking of what to say on my blog. Were to begin and what to post.

I have been working on my Rose wall hanging and will post the photos and what I've done tomorrow. I did take pictures, so I just need to take the time and post them.

The last week I have been thinking of different things going on in my life. Last Tuesday I received word my Uncle past away on Sunday. I was told by Wednesday when and where the funeral services would be. Funeral Services were Saturday and today was the grave site. I went to the funeral on Saturday, but did not attend services today at the grave site. One reason because it was 2 hours away and the other was he would have a military service with Taps. Taps is one of those things I can't help but cry for. I know my day is coming when my father goes. I'm not looking forward to that day. Life is strange at times. My Uncle (God rest his sole) had a stroke 14 years ago. He has been in a home the last 16 or 18 months. I haven't seen him in 5 years. That was my fault, but at the same time, I remember him telling me when I was growing up, he wanted to be remembered as the person he was, not as a broken man. I wanted to remember him as the person he was and not the person that was limited because of his stroke.

While my mind was on my Uncle, my mind was also on my son coming to visit around Christmas. I was thinking of having him help me in designing a quilt for him. He's such a good artist, and I believe he knows better than I do what he wants in/on a quilt. I also thought of my Hawaiian quilt that I'm quilting. I designed that one and wondered if I sold the pattern how many would really want the pattern. Would it be worth it?

Designing quilts has been on my mind lately. I have found quilt tops I really want to make a quilt out of, but the disappointing part of it is the quilt isn't big enough for a bed. Quilts have become square in size and how can you put a square quilt on a bed that isn't square?! I bought a couple applique pattern in NC (finding out they were designed in CA), and noticed they also were square. I figured out I could make three more blocks for the quilt to make it longer and just as pretty as it is now. Those of course will be quilts I will make AFTER I get a few UFO (Unfinished Objects) done. I'm making progress though. Back to my designing - I woke up the other morning at 2 am and couldn't go back to sleep, so I went downstairs and tried to design a center block I was thinking about. Of course, the idea was there, but the design was not. I need to take more art classes again! (laughing)  I will try and sit down and work on a few designs to see where I go from there. My mother and I designed a beautiful quilt for SWWRDQG that was raffled off a few years back. It was all done in applique.

UFO - someone asked me what a quilter meant by a UFO. We call them Unfinished Objects, which is quilt project that have been started but not finished. They are not quilt project we plan on making, they are project already in the making. So, when I say I have UFO's I have several quilt tops I started and didn't finish, blocks that are done but not put in a top. Tops that are done but not quilted. And the list goes on, but NOT what I want to make, it's what I stared. (FYI)

Christmas is coming upon us and I'm still trying to get a few things done. Not getting very far. Both our TAS groups are having a party with potluck and "white elephant" gift exchange. I found a really pretty pattern on eBay that I think will be fun to have with some fabric or something with it. Not sure which group I will have that one for. Trying to think of ideas for the gifts, so may start checking the internet for a few things on sale. The more I can get the more fun it will be.

I went downstairs on Sunday and got some quilting done on the Butterfly quilt. It is slowly coming along as well. If I'm lucky I can get that and the Hawaiian quilt done so I can have it in the quilt show in February with mom's quilts. I'm hoping I can do that. May have to stay off playing games for a while to get it done though! And anyone that knows me and games, know that may be hard for me to do. (still laughing)

So, as I said, I will try and get photo's posted tomorrow on the Rose quilt I'm working on. It's looking really pretty and the effect I was hoping for is coming to light. I'm down to the big rose on the bottom. I may have it done by Thursday yet!! It was hard not to tell my walking partner that I am trying to get it done for Christmas, since it is going to her. I really need to bite my tongue at times, since I'm always telling her where I am on what I'm working on.

Till tomorrow.....have a great day!

I have come to the conclusion that Charlie is spoiled

This past weekend was interesting. I was able to get a few things done, and play some games.

At the age of 16 or older, Charlie does keep me on my toes. She's there waiting for me when I get up in the morning and follows me around. When I finally decide to sit down, she's there. Like yesterday when I got on the computer. She was there. She sat on my arm (mouse arm) and stared at me. I'd move her over and she would then sit on the keyboard. No matter where I moved her, she made sure her face was in my view and bat her big eyes at me. So, I petted her and gave her TLC. That took a good 15 mins. Then she decided to sit in the chair next to me (that I moved over for her). If I thought my husband's snoring was bad, this cat can snore!

Yesterday was "game day" for the football teams. Husband is from Green Bay, so guess who his team is. I'm from WA state and guess who my team is (head hanging). So, we heated up the downstairs with the fireplace and headed down there. There we watch the football games while I quilt. My team was embarrassing to watch but the team they played was even more so. Took Charlie along for the ride, so to speak. Put her on one end of my quilt frame so I could quilt on the other end.

I have a sheet at one end to put her on. Not that it matters, because she comes right in my face purring like crazy. So, I moved her over to the spot on the sheet, no dice. I moved her back and she sat looking at me like I just killed her best friend. So, TLC, again.

Now this is where I'm throwing in a "note" to all quilters. But first I want to say I appreciate the work that was put into this quilt top! The SWWRDQG made this top for me as an outgoing president. Here is where the "note" goes - please, please, when giving a quilt away as a gift, please don't use dark thread to sew light color fabrics. Not even if the background is dark. One of the butterflies that was pieced has dark lines coming out of the seams. It doesn't help the look of the butterfly, your eyes go to the stitches. The yellow in the center was done is dark thread as well. That makes the pretty flower look dirty. As I said, I so appreciate the work that was put into this quilt and am thrilled to have it. The dark likes made a beautiful quilt top look pretty, if that makes sense. If you have a quilt that goes from dark to light, use something like a tan color that will blend in with both the dark and light. You can go on the dark side of tan without the affect that a black or dark blue line has.

Okay, back to my story of Charlie. Last night when we moved back upstairs, Charlie sat on the quilt that is on the couch. Till I sat down in my chair. She got up, came over to me and wanted to sit on my lap. Since I was trying to applique, my husband told me to make her sit at my feet (with the foot rest up). I pushed her down. That didn't work, she came back to my lap. I pushed her down again, no luck. The third time my husband got up and picked her up to put her at my feet. Wow! You'd think dad spanked the child! She got mad and got down. Sat there staring at both of us. I called her back and told her to sit there, and she did. When I got up, I accidently push the foot rest down and she fell on the floor. She headed for the back door at that point, like she was ticked. I gave her water and she came back. When it was time to leave, which you will do automatically when I say "time for bed," she didn't move. Got the mad attitude from her, but she finally did leave. My husband looked at me, said, "Your the one who spoils her, I hope you know."  Yep, I guess I do, but she's so much fun! When it comes down to it, you'd think she was a teenager! Attitude all around.

My quilting over the weekend was - worked on the Rose pattern, quilted on the butterfly quilt (photo). Quilting I put in a good 3 hours. I'm happy with that. Have a great day!

It's Been Awhile

It's been awhile since I posted here. I was trying to think of what I've done that is worth posting....like I said, boring....

Okay, here I go. Thursday (at our TAS Haven't Missed A Stitch group) last week I started marking the Rose Arbor pattern from Pacific Rim Quilt Company, designed by Nancy Lee Chong. It's a 24"x36" wall hanging that I'm making for a friend. I'm hoping to have it appliqued by the first of December. Nancy has some really cool quilt patterns that don't take long and are fun to do. Mine is done with a variegated fabric. I choice that fabric because it goes from one color to the next from salvage to salvage. I feel in love with the possibilities this fabric has.

I basted this quilt on Friday at the TAS Myron's Girls group. That night I started the applique.

Before the TAS Haven't Missed a Stitch group today, I had this much done, along with one bud in the corner. I could have gotten more done, if Charlie wasn't around. (As you can see)

http://prqc.com/2faq.htm is where you will see the actual pattern (permission to use this from Nancy Lee Chong, owner)

I am planning to take a few more pictures tomorrow that will show the progress. As you can see from the above photo's - the colors go from a light green to yellow to pink to red to purple. In deciding on this fabric I liked the way the flowers change shades and how it shows a rose coming from a light bud to a full purple color. I think it will be very striking when I'm done. The background is a white on white with a rose pattern to it. As you can see the variegated fabric also has a flower pattern.

The more I post the more you will tell I'm a very bright colored person. I do not care for dull colors. quilts that have a "pop" to the work is what I look for. One of these days I would like to do a "fall" color quilt. It is out of my comfort zone, but I will be a challenge on color. I have been thinking about colors I would use  and found that the best place to look is in nature. So, the other day, I fell in love with the colors in the maple tree outside our back door and took a picture.

In the meantime, my two quilts that I'm quilting are on hold. I would like to have both of them done by February for the quilt show. My mother wants to be able to add my quilts for the "mother, daughter" hangings they are planning on. I will ask both friends that will be getting a wall hanging, if I can borrow the wall hangings for the show.

If you love to applique and want something quick and easy to do, try out Nancy's 2 Fabric Applique Quilts because they are a lot of fun. This is the third one I have done since June. The first one I did was her Butterfly pattern.

This is hanging in my entryway. I love the colors, and it works in the hallway. Plus I like Butterflies and have collected them over the years.

Today was fun at the TAS Haven't Missed A Stitch group. We talked about having a Christmas party and gift exchange. Since meeting on the 22nd of December, so it will be like having our own little Christmas that day.Quilters love to eat as much as they do quilt, so we are having a potluck. Should be exciting. I have found TAS to be very helpful and fun! I find I'm interested in finishing things, as well as wanting to see what everyone else is doing. There is just something about being with a group that has the same interests as you do, doing the same things you do. It's encouraging and fun at the same time.

So, lets see if I can make my goal of getting this Rose Arbor wall hanging done by the first. I'll try and take pictures as I go, so you get the idea of what all it takes to make this quilt top. Till then.....

Started Another Project

Okay, here I go again. I'm starting another project. As if I don't have enough going on now, I decided to start a 2 Fabric Applique (by Nancy Chong), for a Christmas gift. HOPEFULLY, it won't take long. Usually the applique takes me about 2 weeks. Quilting even less. So, if I stick with it I can have it done by Christmas. We'll see.....

So, Thursday I started the marking of the work. Friday I was able to get a parcel leaf done, and yesterday I got even more done on it. I have 2 1/2 leaves appliqued down. I cut and applique as I go. Makes it easier then trying to figure out where I am. Yesterday I took it with me to the bowling alley and appliqued while my husband was in a tournament. He did pretty good I might say - bowled a 144, 212, 202. If it wasn't for the first game he probably would have won something. Back on track - after the bowling alley we went up to Olympia and shopped at Costco. We had 2 hours to kill, so we looked around and got to the restaurant a good 1/2 hour early, so we sat in the car and talked while I appliqued more. When we got home I was going to applique more but Charlie missed me all day and wasn't going to let that happen. So, no work was done last night.

Today I'm bowling in Longview, so applique work won't be done till later today. Still waiting on posting any photos of the top to get permission to post the pattern. I'll take picture of my progress so you can at least see that. Looking forward to seeing how far I get by our next TAS meeting with Haven't Missed a Stitch.
 

THANK YOU TO ALL THE VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY

Today is the day to give thanks to all our veterans. Since I grew up in a military family, I know the meaning of thanking them for their work and dedication. For 5 generations, my family has served this country. Each generation gave that much more. We have lost family and survived.  A military family knows what it means to fight for this country. They don't take freedom for granite. So, please, instead of spitting on a veteran, how about you say "Thank you!" They are humble people. You might be surprised by their reaction. This is the day we honor them and what they have given us - Freedom - that is slowing being taken away from us.  My Thank You's go to all the military friends and families that served with my father, along with my father, Husband, nephew, and both brothers. Your my world!

YESTERDAY WAS A GOOD DAY!

Yesterday I actually got a few things done! lol Trouble is, my hubby and I were talking about Christmas. You know, the usual, what are we going to do?, Who are we giving gifts to?, and what is the budget this year? Well, we started going down the list, and guess what?, we figured a few more people in as we were going along. So, I decided instead of buying a gift for a friend, I could make one.....you know how we are. Well, that new project I didn't want to start - it got started. I'm working on one of Nancy Chong's 2 Fabric Applique. As soon as I get her permission, I will post the pattern and show you my colors. I was able to mark the top fabric and started basting it on the background fabric. I didn't get very far, but today is the other TAS group at my mothers. So, I'm taking it along and will try to finish basting and then start appliqueing it down.  It goes fast, so hopefully my time line is good. I bought the batting for both this one and the frog pattern I did awhile back. I have the frog for another friend, but she already knows about it.  Looking forward to today! 

Slowly getting there...

The past two days have been productive in ways of quilting. I was able to get about 4 hours quilting time in. That felt good. Till I looked at my quilting lines and realized I needed to quilt a little more. Funny how that works. Not only that, I found that my quilting stitches are not what they used to be, so I'm trying to work on that too. There are big stitches and little stitches, but most of the time I find I'm the only one that really sees that. This time though, I think others will too. Yesterday I got in another 2 hours. The quilting goes quick. I just need to sit down and quilt.

Yesterday afternoon I went downstairs and looked at the next block in the Block of the Month from SWWRDQG (SW WA Rainy Daze Quilt Guild). Remember, I started this back in 2001 when they first came out. So, this block wasn't my favorite and I think I have always loved the pattern, just too much a chicken to do it. Now, I get to do it, not just one, but two. Ugh. I cut the background fabric for both of them, and I still need to decide what colors I'm going to use for the flowers. That may take me a little while. My daughter said she wanted orange and red. So, I'll work on those colors. Mine is more blues and purples. I have plenty of those colors.

This is the Carolina lily.

So, I have all the background cut and ready to go, I did the bias for the stems, (I decided to sew the stem up the middle instead of appliqueing it), and now just need to pick the bud colors. It may take me a little while to decide. Who knows, if today goes well, I may go down and cut those as well.

I am trying to get a hold of the author to the book, "Affairs of the Heart," so I can post my workings on here. I tried Facebook, with no answer. So, till I can get the permission to post, I'll just have to tell you how that goes.

I took a photo of the BOM pattern that is before this one. I believe this is #5 in the 12 blocks issued. Some of the months had more then one block to do, so there is more to this then meets the eye. I'm doing the embroidery and the applique to #5, then will start #6 (The Carolina Lily).

I'm working on the center part now. It won't take long to get it done, I'm just taking my time. I did finish my daughters orange one, and really liked the results.

So, that is where I am today. Who knows what the next few days will bring. I do have TAS meeting this week on Thursday and Friday. I'm hoping I'll get a lot more done then. In the mean time, I think I'm going to do laundry and quilt. That sounds like fun. My only problem is I found a game I'm hooked on and want to check every so often to see if I have more energy to play. SHAME on ME! lol  I'll go quilt and try to behave.....good luck with that.

Yesterday and today were interesting days!

Yesterday was one of those days - when you plan for things and it doesn't happen. Yep that was my day. I planned on spending time with my daughter, but she had other plans. That was okay. I planned on getting laundry done, and that didn't happen. I ended up cleaning up the kitchen and doing a few things around the house. I had planned on watching TV and quilting all afternoon - that almost happened. Forgot I had a mammogram in the afternoon, so that shot my quilting time down to only about 1 1/2 hours. But that's okay. I did get some quilting in, and that's what matters. I planned on a good meal, but that didn't happen. My husband and daughter had their chipped beef dish while I tried to make myself some stir fry. That could have been better. After all that it was bowling. I planned on bowling good - that didn't happen either. My first game was good! I bowled a 204. I thought I could get that 600 after all - nope. I bowled a 154 and a 178. UGH. My average is 182....or lets say it was 182.

This morning I was kicked out of bed by my husband to make breakfast for my daughter and husband. That didn't happen....MY, is there a trend here?? I was kicked out of bed at 7:00 am because my daughter was returning to Pullman. I didn't mind, but she was in such a big hurry, she didn't get breakfast, and I didn't make it. So, I played on the computer - Facebook of course - for about an hour, then had to get ready to go to the casino. I did mop the kitchen floor so I did do some choirs. So, we went to the casino with my parents. That was interesting too. We came back with $40 more then we took, so that's not bad.

Now, I'm going to go watch Disney channel and enjoy some cartoons. AND quilt. Till next time.

Slowly Getting There

Yesterday was a good day for quilting. I was able to put in a couple hours. Charlie was enjoying her sleep next to my daughter. I'm sure we'll go back to normal after my daughter leaves on Saturday. It's been a good visit. I went to the eye doctors to get my new glasses. They changed the bi-focal and so far it's better for my crafts. The reading part is off a little but that's okay as long as I can see my needlework. I'd hate to loose that sight.

Been working on the leaf design. It's coming along pretty well. I will start going around the leaf with the purple quilting thread. I'm finding I really like the YLI better then the Gutermann thread. I'm using both because of the color choices. I did find a thread in YLI that would work for the purple but I already started quilting using the Gutermann thread. I found that Gutermann thread is lighter and at time I think it's going to break. YLI reminds me of the quilting thread they had back in the 60's and 70's. It's a better quality and well worth using for hand quilting.

We went to the Pacific Quilter's quilt show in September and looked all over for quilting thread. There was a ton of quilting thread, but it was more for machine quilters then it was for hand quilters. We bought a "quilting" thread that we thought would work and was in a pretty purple. When I started to quilt on it, it was like quilting with regular thread and broke easily. The thread was not cheap either. I was so ticked off that it wasn't thick like it should be and broke way to easily. It was a newer company and had all the colors you wanted. I thought about it after I took all the quilting out of my quilt, and decided I wouldn't even use it for machine quilting. Not that I would do machine quilting. I hate sewing on the machine, let a lone quilting on a machine. Then again, never say never. So, I have come to the conclusion, if I'm even going to buy quilting thread, I need to stay with YLI. I just hope they don't go out of business like the first company did back in the early 1980's. The thread my mother bought back then lasted a good 10 years because she bought as much as she could before they went out of business.

Recently I went to a quilt show here in Centralia, WA and was surprised at how much machine quilting was the "norm." I found only a few things that were hand quilted. Some where quilts that were done in the early 1900's. The was a disappointment to me. I grew up learning how to do crafts by hand. Now I'm finding people that do crafts do the "quick and easy" method instead of learning how to do things by hand. Excuses are they don't have time, it takes too long. Truthfully, it doesn't take that much time, yes it takes longer then machine piecing or quilting, but the end result is so much better. It's relaxing and enjoyable. You put more pride into it when you know you made it from "scratch." When I sit in front of the TV, I don't waste my time clued to the TV. I actually have something in my lap I'm working on. If not quilting, then I'm appliqueing or I'm cross stitching. Something is in my hands when the TV is on. I don't miss much when the TV is on. I have even been known to have the sewing machine up here doing embroidery work, while I'm on the computer. If the computer is doing the work for me, I have my applique handy and work on it while I wait for the computer to download or play the game I'm playing. If I have an appointment with the doctors or just going with a friend, I take along some applique work or piecing and work on it while I wait. Unless I'm more in the mood to play games, then I take my DS. I just try to work on my stuff every chance I get. My family will even tell you, it's rare to find me not working on something.

Today I have an appointment in the afternoon, so will probably take my applique to finish up that block I was working on on Tuesday. I'll try to get some quilting in this afternoon, since bowling is tonight. My hip is acting up, and a little sore but I can manage. Would like to get my 600 series tonight, but I'll just keep working on it. Today will be interesting to see what I get done. I slept in later then usual and that puts me a little bit behind. Oh, well.

Another attempt at Quilting

Halloween only brought about 6 kids to the house. They were really dressed up this year! I enjoy seeing all the new and different costumes they come up with. I do miss the days when we went all out for Halloween but since our children are grown and gone, it's not as much fun. Looking forward to little children coming to visit from time to time. My nephews children are too far away to enjoy them, but I can keep hoping others will be visiting in the next few years.

Quilting is going along pretty good. I finally finished the center of the Hawaiian quilt. I'm starting to echo around the leaves and flowers that come from the center. This quilt is going faster then I thought. I was lucky enough to have my daughter here for a short time and she kept Charlie at bay for me. Charlie seemed to want to sleep between the two of us. When my daughter got  up to go downstairs, then Charlie decided it was time to sit in my lap. Moving a big 18 year old cat, to get quilting done is not easy. The hardest part is when your quilting the center of the quilt and it doesn't matter where she sleeps, you still have to pull to move her. Talk about dirty looks! Hand quilting isn't as hard as most would think. It's relaxing and worth the time.

Today is a day I plan to get a few stitches in on quilting. Yesterday while my daughter and I were getting our hair cut, I worked on my BOM Affairs of the Heart. I'm almost done with another block. I do need to do the embroidery around two blocks and my take those for projects to work on when I go places. Embroidery is fun and easy to do. It really brings out a quilt.

Off to try and get something done today, even if it is laundry.

New Week

Last Thursday and Friday were busy days. I got my stuff for the two TAS groups I'm in ready. I found using a scrapbook plastic tote works great. I must have 6 of them. I put my unfinished projects in them. But when you have over 15 unfinished projects, it's time to weed down the projects.

I took the BOM projects I've been working on with me. On Thursday I took pictures and sent a few of those up to The Applique Society's (TAS) president. Since this is a new group I help get started, I've been in charge of the organization of paperwork and dues. We had about 14 members of 22 show up at the quilt shop. Everyone works on their own projects and shares what they have going on. Mom had 10 of the 12 cat applique blocks she's working on done.

                                         SWWRDQG Block of the month, 2002

Friday was one of those days. Got up early to vacuum and clean the carpet. Then I went to the TAS group at mom's house. I took what I was working on on Thursday. A couple of the gals in that group finished more projects, and showed them. I passed out the chenille   stuff we ordered that had arrived. I'm looking forward to using it on my block for stems. I helped get the table set for all the quilters to eat lunch. Then I had to hurry up and close up my stuff to get back for our furniture to arrive. Arrived home just as they were turning the corner to deliver the furniture. Worked some more on cleaning the carpet before hubby got back from work. Then we headed off to bowling. 

Saturday and Sunday are kind of a blur. I did try to quilt on the Hawaiian quilt top on Saturday, but Charlie wasn't having any of that. Hubby threatened to remove Charlie so I could. Told him she was fine. But she did find a spot on my legs that she didn't want to move from. So, I had the quilt and the cat on top of me. Talk about getting warm, good thing the weather was on the cool side. Sunday I went downstairs to quilt on the Butterfly quilt that's on a frame. I got 15 minutes in on quilting when hubby brought me Charlie - "Are you missing someone?," was the reply. So, we put her on the quilt at the other end. That lasted a short time when I felt her nose push up against me finger. She wanted attention - again. I gave her TLC for awhile, quilted a few more stitches when my parents arrived to go out to eat.

So, that was the extent of my quilting over the past 4 days. Can't seem to win lately. 

This morning I went back to the eye doctor to get my glasses worked on. The bi-focal was off and not "crisp," so they are making it stronger for me since I do a lot of hand work. Don't know when I'll get them back, but it only took a couple days last time. 

My plans? Good question. Laundry is a bit behind, so working on that. I am going to try and get some quilting done since Charlie seems to like the sun (what there is of it) out on the deck. As long as she stays out there, I should be able to get a lot more quilting done. Let's hope. I'm going to try though.... 

This morning I wish I took my camera with me when I did my morning walk at 7 a.m.  The sky was beautiful with reds and oranges. Plus the fall trees are turning. The maples are turning bright red and bright yellow. It's so enjoyable walking that early in the morning to watch as the sun comes up. If you haven't done that, you should at least once in your life time.

As things turned out yesterday, I was lucky enough to get more quilting in. I did two loads of laundry and baked some gluten free peanut butter cookies. I kept getting up and down with quilting yesterday. I tend to want to move around more then just sit all day. I got lucky - Charlie decided she wanted to sleep in my computer chair rather then come into the living room and sleep on the quilt. - Not so lucky today, the first thing she did when she came into the house was go straight for my quilt. As for me, I'm on the computer. No surprise there.

I need to work on getting my stuff ready for the quilt group tomorrow. We started another group with The Applique Society. TAS as we call it. That is a great group of people to get involved with and there are so many good ideas out there. I've learned a lot from them over the past three years of being a member. My mother has been a member almost from the beginning. I think it's funny how our membership numbers are exactly 10,000 different. I joined 10,000 after she did. I am a member of two TAS groups. One is at my mother's home and the other is at Quilter's Junction, in town. The one at Quilter's Junction is new, this will be our 3rd meeting. All the ladies are wonderful to be around. Plus being with them has gotten me to get more done with my projects. I have actually been working on 2 different applique projects and quilting 2 different quilts. I told myself I would not start a new project till I completed 2 unfinished works. I have actually finished 4 unfinished projects since June and have told myself I want to finish more before I start my Baltimore Christmas BOM (block of the month). I ordered that in January and got all my supplies at the end of September. I'm excited to get that going but want to finish a little more before I do.

My BOM's consist of Affairs of the Heart - which is one of my projects I'm doing now. I have 27 blocks of the 32 or 36 blocks done. This was something 4 of our group decided to do. 3 of us bought the BOM through a quilt shop in Texas. My mother decided she was going to make it from her scraps. So, of course, she finished the quilt first, even when we told her she had to wait. Mom just works fast and does beautiful work.

I need to get my bobbins done and put in the stack and carry case. I took that idea from a few of my fellow quilters. They bought cheap bobbins and used the embroidery/applique threads and wound them on there. They bought the Stack'n Store "trees" and use those for when they are going to meetings or retreats. That way you don't have to carry all your threads with you. I like it because it take one bag out of the equation. Less to carry and more room for your fabrics. I was winding bobbins this weekend and now just need to get a few more before I pack for tomorrow and Friday.

Okay, today is a "nothing scheduled" day. So, let's see if I get anything done today. I really do need to vacuum but Charlie gets spooked. And after saying that, I agree with my husband, that cat is spoiled! I work around her and she comes around for TLC all the time. Actually, that's why I'm slow today, she wanted an hour of TLC time with me this morning. Now she's on the quilt.

Quilting is going faster than I thought it would. My stitches are not very good, but I am working on it. Hopefully they will get better by the time I'm done. It's not really a quilt for show, so I'm really not worried about it. I'm not ready to show off my quilts, never really felt like showing off my work. I enjoy what I do and don't care what others think about my quilts. I blush when people like my work, so I keep them in the family.

Okay, time to do something constructive again. Who knows what my day will be like till I do it. Have a great day.  

Another day...

Since posting my information yesterday, I actually got some quilting done. Charlie (my 18 yr old cat), thinks the quilt belongs to her, so it is hard to do much with Charlie around. She is a sweetie though, she is cleaning herself as I type (right next to me on the desk).

I had forgotten how quick hand quilting can go. I have been working on my Hawaiian quilt that I design some 7 or 8 years ago. That with the help of Nancy Chong. So, if you ever get the chance, take a class from her. I put in a good 3 hours quilting time and am getting closer to being able to do the center of the quilt. I had to go around the center design before I could quilt the inside section. That wasn't as hard as I thought, since I made sure the quilt is tight each time I quilted one section. The center motif has four leaves and four flowers coming out of the center. Once the flowers are done, I will be able to do the center by going around in echo stitching. During my breaks I took  a few pictures of some of my projects as well as Charlie on my quilt that I'm quilting. 

The butterfly quilt that I am also hand quilting is on a frame downstairs. We usually go downstairs to watch football on Sundays, so that is when I go and quilt on that quilt. I could go down anytime I want, but it's more fun to have people around when I quilt. 

My "workshop" is downstairs and I have plenty of room to move around it. I have been pulling out unfinished projects that were started over 10 years ago. I was thinking of two of them the other day. One is appliqued butterflies I put on a bed sheet. I started that one when my daughter was a year old. She is now 22 years old. My, how time flies. The other quilt is an old pattern that is hand pieced. Similar to the wedding ring circles, but has star points there instead. I guess you could say it's a cross between a wedding ring and a snowball. When I figure out the name, I'll post it. 

It has been fun and exciting at time to go down in my quilt room and pull stuff out. About 6 months ago, I decided to clean up my shop and get organized for when I had time to quilt. I sold a few fabrics at a garage sale, and I even throw a few things out. I gave books away or sold them on eBay. My room was clean and organized when I finished. 

The interesting part, was that I had forgotten about so many of the projects I started, that it was hard to remember how to finish a few. Take the Dizzy Geese pattern. I started that in a quilt retreat over 7 years ago. Had most of the fabrics cut, just needed to sew it together. UGH. No such luck, it wasn't that easy! It took two weeks to figure out what I did to what I needed to do. When I did figure it out, it took another two weeks to piece. I went to my mothers thinking I didn't have enough material for the border work and was working on a different inside border. Mom figured we had just the right amount of fabric, so for 2 full days we pieced geese for the inside border. After all that work, I don't think I will ever do another one of those quilts again. But in the quilting world you can't say NEVER because it always comes back to bite you! lol

So, what are my plans for today? Who knows! I've been on the computer since I got up. Seems to be hooked on free games on Facebook. I do want to get more quilting done, as I'm hooked on the quilting part. I need to get a few things together for Thursday and Fridays applique groups. In a couple weeks, it will be Thursday one week and Friday the next, but in the mean time they are both this week. 

I'm finding my quilting stitches are big, and I'm trying to get them smaller. The more I work on it the more I'll remember how to get them smaller. 

Okay, need to do something constructive today. Laundry, TV, and quilting all at the same time. I'll let you know how it goes, because when I PLAN something - rarely does the plan work. 

Not sure what I'm doing..

I'm not sure how blogging works, but thought I would try it. I'm finding out I need to post each time I have something to say. I would rather just add to what I already started. 

Life is good! lol 

A Quilter's life after 50

I have finished 3 years of Community College, getting 3 ATA's. I'm over 50 years old. I do love Birthdays, so I'm willing to tell my age. Growing up with 2 brothers and a grandmother made life interesting. We traveled the world because my father was in the USAF. I've seen things and heard things most people ever dream of. I married in 1982 and am still married to the same person. We have 2 children, one in NC and the other at Pullman. Since I was 7 years old, my mother and grandmother taught me how to do needlework. I have done crocheting, knitting, cross stitch, and counted cross stitch to name a few. I made embroidery flowers on my jeans as a teenager. We were taught to respect our "elders." So, I would ask my mother and grandmother to teach me how to make things. I've made so many things over my lifetime, but little has followed me. I still have a sweater I made in HS that my daughter is wearing these days. So, a few things I still have. While in HS, I decided I would not become a quilter. It wasn't what I wanted to do. Too much work, too much time, too much mom's thing. When I graduated and tried to get my mother to make me a blue double wedding ring quilt, she said she would buy the fabric if I made the quilt. (By HAND) After picking the fabrics and waiting for her to start on it, I decided I would learn. It took me 4 years to piece. While I was dating my husband, he saw what I was working on, and talked me into finishing it. After we were married, he even made me a quilt frame to put it on so I could hand quilt it. I finished the quilt just before my son was born in 1985, so it took 7 years from start to finish. I gave my husband that quilt. (I will look for a photo and post it on here). That quilt has been in three different magazines in the 1980's. After my son and daughter were born, quilting because a "second" to everything. I went to work to help with paying bills. We worked hard to get where we are now. I even worked for AmeriCorps to help pay my way in CC.

So, today, of all days, I thought, "what the heck", I could write down what I'm thinking at the time I'm quilting and I can show some of my quilts, that usually don't get shown. I'm usually a quiet person, who stay in the background and waits to see what others do.

I am quilting on my own designed Hawaiian quilt, also quilting on a quilt top given to me by the SSW Rainy Daze Quilt Guild, after I step down from President. I'm finishing some unfinished project that were started over 10 years ago. I'm working on a block of the month that my mother and Vicki Parapya did for the SSWRDQG. I have two going at once, because my daughter wanted her's in orange. I wanted to do one in blue. So, I have one for me and one for her. Should be interesting. I've completed 5 months of blocks, so I have a ways to go.

I could just keep typing, but I'm going to get lunch, think about this blog, and decide how I'm going to do this. Should be interesting to see if anyone cares. (smiling)